The legendary site in England where the Nazis' communication code was finally broken, Bletchley Park, has hit hard times. The land is being eyed by developers eager to build on the spot situated perfectly between Oxford and Cambridge. Among possible funders who turned the opportunity down was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation — reportedly because it wasn't "Internet related."

Never mind the contributions of such scientists as Alan Turing to computing and cryptography, two rather key elements in the development of the Internet. Still, if that's a stipulation of the foundation for funding, it only makes clear how Bill Gates and company are using the nonprofit to invest in Microsoft's strategies by other means — and putting ex-Microsoft executives out to pasture there, rather than hiring experienced philanthropists. (Photo by Marcin Wichary)